Monthly Archives: June 2017

Keen to get involved with Seed without getting your hands too dirty? Our fabulous finance team is looking to fill one of the most important roles in the organisation - Finance Officer. This role oversees the financial operations of the organisation and is responsible for maintaining financial records. This is a critical role and we need to fill it asap so the current Finance Officer can train you up!

- How did you join find your way to joining the Burning Seed Leadership crew?

I accidentally fell into my first burning seed without really realising it... totally down the rabbit hole?! My outlook was completely changed and when I got back I put my hand up to help with some of the finances - I had seen the call out before I went to Seed but I was too scared. Afterwards I had the confidence and the drive to help out.

- What do you do in real life?

For my sins, I am an accountant, but I recently left my long term finance role at a non-profit to set up my own accounting and tax business for creatives and non-profits.

- What did your Burning Seed role entail?

The finance team manages all the finances working with Team Leads, Facilitators and Town Council, from budgeting to reporting, paying invoices, herding cats 😉 and everything in between.

- How many hours per week (on average) did you put in?

This is hard to estimate! I'd say with a solid rounded team (as we are building now) the finance role should be done in a couple of hours per week per person - many hands make light work. If it's left to one or two people it can be a bit overwhelming.

- What projects did you champion?

Well - it's finance so it's not sexy, but Brian (Finance 2ic) and I have worked hard to get all teams familiar with Xero and trained to do some of the invoice and expense functions - some of our crew probably never thought they would know how to code invoices and calculate GST and I'm proud of them! 🙂 Everyone learns new skills volunteering for Seed, such as learning how to manage their budget and invoicing.

- Which projects are you most proud of and why?

As is often in life, the most challenging times are some times the most rewarding, and dealing with the insurance claim, the insurers and proving our numbers to them was tough, but I'm proud that I did it and contributed towards us getting the best outcome.

- What has been the most challenging aspect of performing your role?

When you volunteer in a Finance role, you can be working alone quite a lot in front of your screen, so you have to remember to get out to the events and in the community to be able to reap the rewards of the amazing project that you are working on.

- What has been the most rewarding aspect/s of performing your role?

Contributing towards putting on such an amazing and transformational event.

- What does the future hold for you?

I have bought a van, which I'll be bringing to Seed and straight after I'll be travelling the length and breadth of the country, working, surfing, connecting with the land and being a Nomad Finance Nerd. I can't wait!

We are absolutely STOKED to announce the winner of the 2017 Deeper Space theme design... none other than Sarah Barber!

You may remember Sarah's work from the Deep Space 2016 design, as she was also the winner of last year's contest. We're so pleased she can have another chance to showcase her incredible work to the Seed community.

This is what Sarah had to say about her inspiration for this year's design:

"The idea is that Deep space exists not only in the sky but also in the darkest corners of the deep ocean - which seemed appropriate due to 2016 Seed's unfortunate flooding incident. This poster represents the Space In Between, the space where we come to celebrate this unique community we reside in. Where nothing and everything exists in its own little place. The design shows a diver falling out of the ocean and into the sky, then back into the ocean - as if looping on itself. It reiterates this idea with the ouroboros symbol which lies behind an upside down/flipped compass - symbolising losing yourself. I wanted to portray the idea of looping and infinity as it was as if Seed was repeating history with the new theme of Deeper Space."

Congratulations Sarah!

And for the submissions that weren't selected, we'll be showcasing them on site at Burning Seed 2017, so make sure you check them out.